Volcano Curry

photo - Yelp, Chena N.

Volcano Curry of Japan, Inner Richmond, Dinner
March 20, 2016

P:
Chicken Katsu Curry, Medium Spicy

J:
Chicken Katsu Curry, Medium Spicy
+ Zucchini and Fukujinzuke Pickles


Notes:

This place is a favorite of ours, and we've been here a number of times.  We both knew of it before we knew each other, and happily we continue to love it, together.  And, bonus: it's a short walk from our apartment.

We each tend to order the same thing - Chicken Katsu Curry, medium spicy, occasionally changing up the additions.  I sometimes add jalapeno or eggplant, Patrick sometimes adds a potato croquette or boiled egg.

The dish itself is chicken thigh, pounded thin, breaded with panko (Japanese bread crumbs, which have a very particular, super-crunchy texture) and deep fried, served over steamed white rice and Japanese curry sauce with boiled potato and carrot.  Veggie add-ons (e.g. zucchini, eggplant, etc.) are also thrown in the deep fryer until tender; a bit heavy, but still delicious, so no complaints.  The katsu is always perfectly crispy, the curry sauce is always flavorful, and the boiled potatoes and carrots always tender.  What's special about this is it's a consistently dependable, comforting meal.  If that's what we're in the mood for, it never fails to hit the spot.

I should mention that another favorite thing of mine here is the Spam katsu mini-sandwich.  I didn't have Spam for the first time until, I dunno, about 8 years ago, in the form of Spam musubi (which I highly recommend everyone try, at least once - it's amazingly good), and have since expanded my Spam vocabulary by only a few more preparations, this being one of them.  A 1/4" thick slab of Spam is breaded in panko, fried until crispy and served on a sweet, squishy, King's Hawaiian Roll with a touch (or more, wink wink) of katsu sauce.  It's one of the most perfect snacks, ever.  Feel free to disagree (ahem, Patrick), but you'd be wrong (ahem, Patrick).

Side note: I love katsu sauce, and I realized today that the reason I love katsu sauce is it's essentially Japanese A-1, and I LOVE A-1 Steak Sauce.  I spent the majority of my childhood looking for things to douse in A-1; that sweet-tangy flavor goes with everything (except for maybe a really good steak).